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Trace element levels and cognitive function in rural elderly Chinese.

Sujuan Gao¹, Yinlong Jin, Frederick W Unverzagt

¹Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Suite 3000, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. sgao@iupui.edu

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

|June 19, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

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Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

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Plasma calcium, cadmium, and copper levels are linked to cognitive function in older adults. Higher calcium is associated with better cognition, while higher cadmium and copper suggest poorer cognitive performance.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Gerontology

Background:

Trace elements play crucial roles in central nervous system metabolic and redox reactions, potentially influencing cognitive function.
Extensive research on the link between individual biological trace element levels and cognitive function in elderly populations is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between specific trace elements in plasma and cognitive function among elderly Chinese individuals.
To determine if trace element levels correlate with global cognitive performance in this demographic.

Main Methods:

A cohort of 2000 rural elderly Chinese individuals was studied, with 188 randomly selected for trace element analysis.
Cognitive function was assessed using six tests, summarized into a composite score.

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Plasma levels of aluminum, calcium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, and zinc were measured and analyzed against cognitive scores using ANCOVA, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

Plasma calcium levels showed a significant positive association with higher cognitive scores (p <.0001).
Conversely, elevated plasma cadmium and copper levels were significantly linked to lower cognitive scores (p =.0044 and p =.0121, respectively).
No significant associations were found for other analyzed trace elements (aluminum, iron, lead, zinc).

Conclusions:

Calcium, cadmium, and copper show a notable association with cognitive function in the elderly.
These findings suggest potential roles for these specific trace elements in maintaining or declining cognitive health in aging populations.